Classy Bridal Shower Gift Ideas for 2015

I haven't attended many weddings in my life so when I was invited to attend a relatively new friends wedding last year here in Santa Barbara, CA (which just happens to be a huge wedding destination) and to attend her bridal shower, I was excited and also a bit worried. I had no idea what to get her, not just because we hadn't known each other for very long, but also because I had never attended a bridal shower... so I had no idea what types of gifts were normally given or appropriate. Ah, the pressure!


After a lot of online and in person research, and interviewing (ummm, asking) lots of people, I was able to gather some really great ideas for bridal shower gifts. And because with every new year, Spring seems to be the beginning of wedding season, I thought I would compile a list of trendy yet classy bridal shower gift ideas for anyone who like me, had no idea what to get my friend as a gift before the big day. If you've stumbled upon my list, I hope you find it helpful!

Customized bottles of wine with custom labels. Choose some unique wines and then add personalized wine labels for special occasions so they can celebrate their first milestones as a married couple. So, really, this isn't just for the bride, but a great gift for her to share with the new hubby.

Victoria Secret 'Bride' Hoodie. This one is just for her. A cute lounge type hoodie to be worn during the bachelorette party weekend, for 'the day of' while getting makeup and hair done, or even for the night of the wedding :)

oooh, you can also pair the hoodie with a pair of sexy lace Mrs underwear

love this wifey tank top (cute, classy and very affordable) via ily

the super relaxed comfy version of this shirt in grey

i do and mrs necklaces in gold

mrs new last name gold necklace

if she's planning to change her last name; a monogrammed clutch with her {new} initials. I absolutely love these classy brightly colored clutches from 'Anything but Plain Jane', in bright blue...

and this pink version...

And if none of these gift ideas appeal to you, there's always Money! There are lots of ways to give the gift of money and I absolutely love this creative money gift of 3 $100 bills folded origami style into the shape of a dress and suit:

So, thats it! I hope you enjoyed my list of classy and modern gift ideas for the bride and groom. Have any ideas of your own? Share them below in the comments section...

til next time,

xo

Aziza

Whats new at Aziza Jewelry for 2015

Its officially Spring so here is a sneak peak at whats new in my shop for Spring 2015.

love is forever...

my rose gold forever necklace...

xo earrings- the x is in sterling silver and the o is in gold

initial or letter studs in solid 14k gold

initial studs in sterling silver

abundance is happiness and feeling into the unlimited possibility of the universe. my abundance bracelet in gold and sterling silver

wine lovers earrings in gold with a faceted amethyst as a drop of wine

wine lovers earrings in copper and with a round polished amethyst bead as the grape

There's lots more in my shop so be sure to pop in over at AzizaJewelry.com and check out what else is new :)

xo

Aziza

4 Easy Tips to Clean Gold Filled Jewelry

Customers often ask me how to clean their gold filled jewelry and the truth is most jewelry designers will recommend you DO NOT actually clean gold filled jewelry since if done incorrectly, you can actually remove the top layers of solid gold, but in this post I will give you some really great tips on how to clean and care for your gold filled jewelry and how to prevent it from tarnishing to begin with.

Prevention is key:
1. Remember the last on first off rule. Put your jewelry on as the last part of your outfit, after all clothes are on and after makeup, perfumes and hair products have been applied. Make sure it is the first thing you remove from your body before taking off all clothes and makeup, etc. This will prevent product buildup.

2. Gold filled jewelry tarnishes or starts to darken once it has been exposed to skin, moisture, air and the elements. In order to prevent this, avoid wearing it in the shower, pool, during workouts, to bed and for extended periods of time.

3. The goal with gold filled jewelry is to prevent air or moisture exposure as much as possible so storing it in an airtight plastic bag when not in use is one of the BEST preventative measures.

4. If you've accumulated oil or product buildup on your jewelry, gently clean it by swishing it in a solution of mild dish soap and cool water, lightly pat dry and perform a light "quick polish" with a soft polishing cloth to restore shine. Avoid polishing with harsh polishing cloths or using a lot of pressure. Use an old soft t-shirt or super soft cloth to remove any remaining dirt and restore shine. And remember to store it in an airtight bag when not in use!

Lastly, Enjoy!

As always, each and every purchase includes care instructions. And airtight plastic bags are available for purchase in my shop here

xo
~Aziza

New Jewelry for Valentine's Day 2015

I love Valentine's Day, its a great reason to show loved ones you care and to show some love to yourself, especially if you're single. Self love, as they say is the most important kind of love!

This year for Valentine's Day I'm introducing a lot of new pieces to my shop- heart necklaces and earrings and my new Mother Daughter collection. 

And I'm having a Sale! Here is a sneak peek at just a few of the new pieces in my shop...

New to my shop are these xo earrings and you can order them in gold or silver or both!

I've also recently added these heart name necklaces, choose one in gold or in silver.

And here are a few of my new handblown glass bead heart pendants...

And a few pieces from my Mother Daughter collection. These matching gold heart studs in medium and small.

And these matching sterling silver heart necklaces

There's lots of new pieces besides these, so be sure to check them out! And....
Take 20% off Everything in my shop with code: VALENTINES until Monday February 9th at midnight PST. Monday is also the last day to place an order for guaranteed Valentine's Day delivery. 

Happy Shopping!
xo
Aziza

How Gold Filled is Better than Gold Plated Jewelry?

As a jewelry designer, the metals I work with primarily are sterling silver, 14k gold filled and 14k solid gold. 


I do not work with gold plated materials much. (You'll soon see why below)
Some think gold filled and gold plated are actually the same thing and are puzzled as to why gold filled jewelry cost more. If you've ever wondered why gold filled costs substantially more (but still much less than solid gold), then keep reading!

I often get the questions "What is gold filled? What is gold plated?" so lets clear this up once and for all! :)

Here are just a few reasons why I think Gold Filled Jewelry is BETTER than Gold Plated Jewelry:

What is Gold Filled?

• Gold filled is a thick layer of gold which is pressure bonded or heat bonded to a base metal, which may contain brass, copper, steel and smaller amounts of other metals. Gold filled literally has 100% more gold than gold plating. The top layers of the gold filled item can be up to 1000X thicker than gold plated metal, therefore, gold filled is much more valuable and tarnish resistant. It does not flake off like gold plating does, it does not rub off easily or turn colors when cared for properly.

• Almost anyone who can wear solid gold can also wear gold filled without the worries of allergic reaction to the jewelry. However those who are extremely sensitive to alloy metals like brass or nickel may want to stick to solid gold. With that said, gold filled jewelry is an economical alternative to solid gold! 

• Gold filled items are regulated by the government, while gold plated jewelry has no regulations at all. Gold filled jewelry is made from solid gold and filled with other alloys such as rhodium, brass, and sterling silver. Gold filled wears, looks and lasts very similarly to solid gold because its outer layers are solid gold. In the jewelry industry the quantity of gold must be at least 1/20th by weight of the total product which is why you often see gold filled stamped with 14/20.

What is Gold Plated Jewelry then? 

Gold plating is unregulated. It is usually done via an electro-plating process where a very thin (micron) film of gold is applied to the piece. This is apt to wear away in a short period of time, and even a small scratch will reveal the underlying metal, which is where the "green skin" so often associated with gold plated items comes from. Because of the much lower gold content, gold-plated items are generally much less expensive than gold-filled products. 

Gold Filled Jewelry Care, The Basics: 

Caring for Gold Filled items is as easy as caring for any gold jewelry. Simply keep away from chemicals, including hard water, and apply lotions, perfumes and body sprays before putting on your jewelry. Remove your jewelry when showering, during exercise, in the pool and always remove your jewelry before bed. 

What about when it looks dirty or has collected a lot of oils or dust? Cleaning gold filled jewelry is not recommended because you can remove the top layers of gold however if your jewelry is looking really soiled, you can gently agitate it in a solution of mild sudsy water, rinse well and pat dry with a very soft cloth. Then polish very lightly with a very soft cloth to bring back the luster and shine. Last, be sure to store jewelry in an air tight bag such as the ones I carry in my shop and which I include with every purchase below:

Hope you all enjoyed my article on why I personally think gold filled is better than gold plated jewelry. Comments? Questions? Please let me know below!
xo
Aziza

What I'm Most Excited about in 2015

2015 is here and I've already begun a few small changes here at Aziza Jewelry. I know I mentioned this previously, but I'm still working on AzizaJewelry.com... a rebrand is underway! There are so many things I'm excited about in 2015 but I'll just mention a few here for the sake of time and space.

Part of why I moved to Santa Barbara 2 years ago (I can't even believe I have been here for 2 years already!!) is because I love the beach and wanted to be able to go to the beach year round which wasn't a possibility when I lived in NYC.  I love the overall calm I feel near the water, the smell of the ocean air and the crash of the waves.

We are especially lucky here in Santa Barbara because often times when I visit I am blessed to see dolphins swimming near the shore!

 

Not only do I love the beach, I really enjoy beach themed everything from drinking glasses, to home decor, clothes, you name it! And of course jewelry- so in 2015, I'm introducing more beach themed jewelry into my brand.

Naturally Santa Barbara is a huge wedding destination and since it is a beach town, I also have quite a few beach wedding themed jewelry pieces in my shop.

I'm also re-introducing my flame work glass pendants back into my shop with lots of new heart necklaces just in time for Valentines Day!

Lately I also have wanderlust. I am itching to travel this year since I didn't travel at all in 2014- although I'm not sure where to or when yet. I am always looking for new places to explore... What about you? Do you have wanderlust? Where are you planning to travel to this year?

Well thats all for now. There's much much more that I'm excited about for the coming year so stay tuned!
xo
Aziza

Aziza Jewelry featured in a Book

A little unknown fact about me: towards the end of 2012 when I was still living in Brooklyn, NY just before I moved to sunny Santa Barbara, CA, I was contacted to be a featured writer in an amazing book called "You Make a Difference" along with several other amazing authors and entrepreneurs... like NY Times Best Selling author Janet Bray Attwood, and Best selling author Barbara De Angelis.

Needless to say I was absolutely honored when my mentor Keith Leon said he wanted me to share my transformation-to-become-an-entrepreneur story among some other really amazing entrepreneurs. After I received my copy and read some of their stories, I was truly inspired, even more than ever to continue my journey to grow and develop myself as an entrepreneur and as a person who wants to contribute beauty and happiness to the world through my jewelry, and as someone who wants to grow and learn and contribute to the world in general.

Which is why I want to share this book with you...

And I also want to share this book with you if you are an aspiring entrepreneur, already an entrepreneur or if you just want to read some really great inspirational stories.

So, I'm giving away free copies of this book. Yes, I said FREE! I only have a few copies of these books available on hand so it's first come first served, but if you are interested, please contact me ASAP to let me know you would like a copy. If you prefer to purchase a copy, the publisher is selling them on Amazon brand new for about $16 each but I am offering a copy for free!

Whats the catch you ask?? There is NO catch! 

So if you want a free copy, send me an email at: aziza@azizajewelry.com to get your free copy. If you live in Santa Barbara or in the Santa Barbara area, contact me to arrange for your free pick up and if you live elsewhere and would like a copy shipped to you, all I ask is that you pay $7 for shipping and I will gladly ship it to you anywhere worldwide. Yes, worldwide! Whether its to Kentucky or Kosovo :) 

Talk to you all soon!

xo

Aziza